Finger guard



Patented F eb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES FINGER. GUARD Jacob J. Buck,

Streeter, N. Dak.

Application February 25, 1938, Serial No. 192,623

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in finger guards for mowing machines and the like and has for its primary object to provide means for removably securing the ledger plate in place.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a guard having a removable point secured to the guard by a threaded shank which co-acts with the ledger plate to secure the same in place.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a device of the above-mentioned character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in use and inexpensive to manufacture. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the guard, partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ledger plate and removable point in separate relation.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 denotes generally the body of a conventional finger guard provided at one end with the usual opening 6 to receive a bolt for fastening the guard to the finger bar of a mowing machine. The body 5 is provided with the usual slot I in which the cutter bar reciprocates in 'co-acting relation to the ledger plate 8 seated in. the bottom of the slot. The outer end of the plate 8 is formed with a central semi-circular recess 9 having a beveled edge III adapted to engage with a correspondingly shaped lug II at the outer end of the bottom of the slot. The point I2 of the guard is detachably secured to the body 5 by an axially extending screw-threaded shank l3 which is threaded into the screw-threaded bore I4 which intersects the inner end of the slot I and is alined with the ledger plate 8. The free end of the shank I3 is provided with a central recess I5 adapted to receive the central tapered projection I6 formed on the inner end of the ledger plate and when the point I2 is tightened the ledger plate is moved longitudinally forcing the recessed outer end of the plate into tight engagement with the lug I I thereby'releasably holding the ledger plate in place. To prevent accidental turning of the point I2, a set screw I1 is mounted in the top of the body for clamping the shank I3 in its tightened position.

In use, when it is desired to remove the ledger plate 8, the point I2 is loosened whereupon the shank I3 is retracted thus releasing the ledger plate so that it may be readily removed. To replace the ledger plate the outer end of the plate is engaged with the lug II and upon tightening the point I2 the shank I3 engages the inner end of the plate securely clamping it in position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A finger guard comprising a body having a threaded aperture in its outer end, a ledger plate seated in said body, and a point having a screw shank threaded in the aperture of said body, the free end of said shank being adapted to engage the inner end of said plate upon tightening of said point to removably secure the plate in place.

2. A finger guard comprising a body having a slot to receive a ledger plate and a threaded aperture in its outer end, a lug at the outer end of the slot, a ledger plate having a recess in its outer end for engagement with said lug, and a point having a screw shank threaded in the aperture of said body, the free end of the shank being adapted to engage with the inner end of said plate upon. tightening of said point to removably secure said plate in position.

3. A finger guard comprising a body having a slot to receive a ledger plate and a threaded aperture in its outer end, a lug at the outer end of the slot, a ledger plate having a recess in its outer end for engagement with said lug and a point having a screw shank threaded in the aperture of said body, the free end of the shank having a recess to receive a projection on the inner end of said plate whereby the tightening of said point clamps said plate in position.

4.. A finger guard comprising a body having a slot to receive a ledger plate and a threaded aperture in its outer end, an upstanding lug at the outer end of said slot having a beveled edge, a ledger plate having a recess in its outer end provided with a beveled edge for interfitting engagement with said lug, the inner end of said plate having a central projection, a point having a screw shank threaded in the aperture of said body in alinement with the projection on the inner end of said plate, the inner end of the shank having a recess to receive the projection whereby said plate is clamped in position upon tightening of said point, and a set screw threaded in said body for securing said shank against movement.

JACOB J. BUCK. 

